Concrete building block and method of making same



July 3, 1928. 1,676,153

H. s. PALMER CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK AND METHOD 0F MAKING SAME Filed March 22, 1927 Patented July 3, 1928.

HARMON S. PALMER, OF WASHINGTON, DISERICT 0F COLUMBIA. I

CONCRETE BUILDING BLocx AND METHOD or'fMaxINe SAME. 'i

A Application led March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,412.

My invention relates particularly to what is known as concrete building blocks which are blocks made from a mixture of cement and sand in a mold,the mold being usually a art of a machine, and the blocks after being molded being removed by means of pallets on which they are allowed to stand until the concrete has sufficiently set -or hardened. 0f course, a great many pallets must be provided for use with one machine, and these allets are made of iron or steel, and are, tierefore, a considerable item of expense. Concrete blocks as ordinarily made are unsatisfactory because of their capacity to absorb moisture with the result that walls built of them may be damp as a result of .rainy weather. The object of my invention is two-fold. It is to cheapen the cost of production by eliminating the necessity for use of pallets, and to improve the block by making it water-proof and by utilizing to the utmost the cement by hydration, lor to a more complete extent than has heretofore beenV possible. My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims.

In. the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete block made in accordance with my invention' Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof showing the two positions of the block in the mold- ,ing thereof, as in an ordinary molding machine, and when removed from the machine for setting or hardening.

The block, 10, shown in the drawings to illustrate the practice of my'invention is of the well known hollow oblong form made in the well known machine which has hinged side walls that form the mold and a vertically movable plunger or core for the production of the internal recess or chamber that extends from top to bottom of the block. Upon what is ione of the' vertical 1 4faces of the block when used in building a wall. and which 4isfon the interiorv of the building or structure,is a layer, 11, of fairly thick material which covers that entire surl face of the block,and which is made from.

' sugar cane fibre. I use this material not only because of its toughness, audits waterroof and heat insulating properties, vbut because I havefound that without the employment of any special adhesive or cement, it will so firmly and intimately unite with the cement of which the block is made, that a. union between them is secured that is as tight or firm as if the two. materials were parts. of a homogeneous body with enough tensile strength at the plane of union as to 4withstand all the strains tending to separate them or tear them apart to which the block I is apt to -be subjected. The ylayer in the form of a thick sheet of the proper dimensions is placed in"'the mold before the hy drated mixture of cement and sandis placed in the mold 'and tamped, and the block with its surface layei as shown in Fig. 2 at A is then turned through ninety degrees to place the layer, 11, undermost, and supported by such layer as a substitute for a pallet is removed to the place for setting or hardening ofthe block. It will thus be seen that no allet as a separatel element or member nee to be used, and thus a large saving in cost of manufacture is secured. I have found that with the layer of sugar cane fibre more water can be used in the concrete mix, and -thus very complete hydration of the cement is possible, which is important in utilizing to the utmost the cement in the block. The llayer itself, since itpresents a hereinbefo're will be necessary.

Prior to my present invention. infmaking blocks of concrete in a collapsible machine or mold it has been necessary to use a mixture of sand and cement with less water than the cement should have in order to get the full strength which can be secured from proper hydration. With proper hydration,

-the mixture would beso plastic. it will not hold'a-rigid sha e while being lifted. from* I the machine -on t e iron pallet provided for the purpose. To overcome this deticienc ofwater, resulting from using only su cient to make a tamping mixture, it has been necessary when 4the block has been removed onthe iron pallet and is set or partly cured,to add more water, perhaps several times, but this 'makeshift will never give the strengthit would have if given in the first lace. Not only does this practice result 1n causing great loss of cement but it causes a serious defect in the product in that it leaves the block comparatively spongy and porous and thus not Waterproof.

By my invention, in addition to the moldbox I employ what may be considered an auxiliary side-plate placed against the side of the mold-box before the mixture is put inwhich is made or vfabricated from crushed sugar-cane as hereinbefore explained. There may be only one such auxiliary plate, or one on each side of the block or it may be a-continuous sheet i, extending clear around the mold box, depending upon the State or condition of the mixed material; but in any case this plate or sheet bonds with the concrete and supports the block while being removed. It desired, the single side plates may be used simply as pallets, and as they cost no more than one tenth of the iron pallets l effect a large saving of expense in factory equipment because of the great number and cost of the metal pallets.

Heretofore the eat ob ection to concrete buildings (especia ly dwellings) as well as brick and stone is the fact that they are colder and more damp than wooden houses,

i and a remedy has been sought for years without success. B my invention the same sheet material use so e'ectually in producing the block, and so thoroughly bonded .to it as to become a part ot it, because of its cellular nature, serves as an insulation from heat and cold and protection against dampness when left on the block and incorporated with it in the structure, it provides in itself a pleasing effect or nish, but it will take another finish, such as a thin coaty of plaster, or paper, or paint. l

I havelong sought to overcome the above' mentioned diiiiculties in the use of concrete building blocks (and 'i speak out ot many years of practical experience, having been one of the first to patent and introduce them) but -I found no satisfactory remedy until il used the material before mentioned. This i" is of stron sti artificial lumber, with coarse pinike ber, and of a naturally adherent nature .so that the bond between vit l and the concrete is so strong as to :malte virtually one solid building unit, the union I being contributed to by the weight ot the Lerares with such sheet, and then causing the setting or hardening to take place with such sheet lowermost.

3. in the manufacture of concrete building blocks, the method which consists in placing Within -a mold box a layer of sheet material ot fibrous. and adherent nature, causing the Contact therewith of the concrete mixture in a plastic state, removing the same from the box, and resting the plastic mass on said layer for curing.

4. In the manufacture of concrete building blocks the combination with the mold-box, an auxiliary side-plate within the mold composed o cellular material having an adherent nature adapted to bond with the concrete, and removable with the plastic mass from the mold. I

5. in the manufacture of concrete building blocks, lthe combination with a mold-box,

a pallet of ibrous material with whichv the,

t5. The method of making concrete blocks'4 which consists in placing' the concretemixforms. a'vv support se f ture in a mold and then causing the'setting,

or hardening sugar cane ii the block.

7. rllhe method'ot making concrete blocks having a lamination of brou's material in sheet i'orm' which consistsl in placing the con-- crete mixture in a mold and then causing.

the setting or hardening to taire'pla'ce'withsuch sheet in cont-act therewith under pressignature.

to take placewith a sheet of` er that is 'of an adherent nature 1n contact with' one ot' the side surfaces of,

HARMON S. PALMER.' 

